Walkway installation having a handrail connector

Abstract

A walkway installation includes a walkway assembly which includes at least one tread module supported by a pair of spaced apart elongate supports which extend in the direction of the length of the walkway installation, the walkway installation additionally including a handrail assembly including a handrail which extends in the direction of the length of the walkway assembly and a plurality of spaced apart posts which each secure the handrail relative to the walkway assembly, the handrail assembly additionally including a first connector which secures a post to one side of the walkway assembly and the first connector having secured thereto a substantially inflexible transverse link which extends across the walkway assembly in a direction perpendicular to the length of the walkway installation, the transverse link extending to a second connector secured to the other side of the walkway.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT / GB2019 / 000095 filed Jul. 9, 2019 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to GB 1811514.7 filed Jul. 13, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to a handrail assembly, a walkway installation comprising a handrail assembly, and a connector for use in securing a handrail to a walkway.Description of the Related Art[0003]For pedestrian walkways provided at exposed locations, typically at elevated locations or in proximity to hazardous material, it is desirable to provide a handrail assembly that acts as a barrier to restrain personnel from falling from the walkway.[0004]If the walkway is provided at a location which is away from a wall or other such structure to which a handrail may be directly secured it is necessary to secure the handrail ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent provides a solution for making handrail installations and handrail assemblies that are more resistant to sideways loads. By using a first connector to connect the handrail post to a link, the solution helps to resist any sideways movement of the handrail. This is important because even if a lightweight elongate tread module support is used, the other elongate support is able to handle the load without causing any torsional load on it. This results in a better resistance to sideways deflection for the handrail and post.

Problems solved by technology

Securing a handrail post directly to a roof structure can provide a firm location for the handrail but achieving a strong and watertight connection often cannot be readily and reliably accomplished.

In particular, attaching directly to the roof structure creates a risk of undue localised loading of the roof structure and associated risk that the integrity of a watertight connection might be compromised.

Because of the general desirability, particularly for rooftop installations, for the walkway to be of a low weight that does not disadvantageously apply additional loading to the roof structure there is the potential problem that the walkway may have insufficient strength to provide adequate support for handrail posts.

Thus a walkway assembly of that type of construction is not necessarily suitable for firmly supporting a handrail.

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